Overhead projecting apparatus for bowling alleys and the like



Nov. 19, 1957 H G FITZ GERALD 2,813,455

OVERHEAlj PR OJEC TING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS AND THE LIKE FiledJune 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 19, 1957 H. G. FITZ GERALD OVERHEADPROJECTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS AND THE LIKE Filed June 20,1.955

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllll'rlllil OVERHEAD PROJECTING APPARATUS FORBOWLING ALLEYS AND THE LIKE Harold G. Fitz Gerald, Los Angeles, Calif.Application June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,600

13 Claims. (Cl. 8824) This invention relates to a projecting apparatusand is particularly concerned with an overhead projecting machine suchas is useful in connection with bowling alleys, or the like, whereby animage or the score or scores may be recorded as events occur ortranspire and the recorded matter is then projected by means of lightonto a screen or score board so that the spectators and contestants,both, may observe the progress of the contest.

Overhead projecting apparatus have long been used to project scores inbowling alleys and many other like situations. For example, suchmachines are used in visual education methods of teaching. Such machinescommonly operate by passing light upwardly and vertically through atransparency and through an elevated projecting head that casts theimage substantially horizontally and onto a screen or the like. Themajor problem in'such a machine is to protect a substantial amount oflight in order to produce a bright image and at the same time withoutthe presence of overheating of the machines such as would interfere withthe comfort of the person operating the same. Further, by casting orprojecting a light upwardly and vertically, disagreeable amounts oflight are directed into the eyes of the person operating the machine,thus causing temporary blindness and eye strain, which is extremelydisagreeable when conducting a contest or the like where unimpairedvision is essential. Also, cleanliness of the machine is an importantfactor since the optical systems of such machines become extremelyinefficient when the elements thereof become dusty or dirty.

It is an object of this invention to provide an overhead projectingmachine wherein the light is handled so that there is no blinding of theeyes of the person operating the machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a construction that eliminatesthe presence of heat from those parts of the machine that are handled orthat come into contact with the person operating the machine. In themachine that I have provided, the light source and associated partswhere heat is produced is elevated and remote from the point where theperson operating the machine contacts the parts thereof while changing,adding to, or altering the image which is to be projected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described with means for continuously driving cooling air overall of the heat generating elements thereof in a manner which does notinterfere with the comfort of persons operating the machine.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a machine of thecharacter referred to wherein a maximum quantity of light is directedthrough the transparency without heating of the table or plate uponwhich the hands of the operator or person are ordinarily engaged.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus as abovereferred to that includes a unit for installation in a desk top or thelike, and which handles rates Patent*() 'ported and carried by anysuitable structure.

large quantities of light without heating said unit or desk.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a projectingmachine of the character referred to which is characterized by closedunits, there being a unit for installation in a desk, which unit iscompletely and permanently sealed to exclude dust and dirt from theoptical elements thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a projectingapparatus characterized by closed units, there being a unit forinstallation at an elevated point above a desk or the like, and whichincludes means for eliminating dust and dirt from the air which ispassed through said unit for cooling purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveprojecting apparatus of the character above referred to and which can beeasily installed and easily maintained in proper operating condition.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of my invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical installation of the machine asit may be applied to a bowling alley and showing the machine installedin or at a writing desk, or the like. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe optical system that I have provided and showing the relativepositions of the essential elements of the system. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetailed longitudinal sectional view of the projecting apparatus of thepresent invention. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 3.

The apparatus of the present invention has to do with an overheadprojecting machine X that may be installed in any suitable manner ascircumstances require, as for example, in a desk Y, or the like.Projecting machines of the type under consideration are extensively usedfor projecting an image over the heads of an audience and onto a screenZ and are common at bowling events where it is necessary to continuouslyinform the contestants and spectators of the events which transpire. InFig. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated a typical bowling alleyinstallation of the apparatus of the present invention, which includes,generally, a projecting machine X installed in a desk Y and adapted tothrow or cast an image onto a screen Z located above the bowling alleys10. The screen Z is a flat element mounted in a substantially verticalplane and at an elevated height above the alleys 10 so that thecontestants and/or spectators have full unobstructed vision of thescreen Z at all times.

The projecting machine X, as illustrated throughout the drawings, iscomposed, generally, of two unified mechanisms, there being a lightgenerating and projecting unit 11 and an image handling and directingunit 12. Each of the units 11 and 12 may be designed or constructedstrictly for the function that it is adapted to perform and can beinstalled in furnishings, fixtures, or permanent structures, ascircumstances dictate. As shown, the image handling and directing unit12 is installed in the desk Y so that it is accessible from the top 14thereof, and the light generating and projecting unit 11 is supportedover the desk Y in a fixed elevated position relative to the unit 12.The two units 11 and 12 are fixedly related to each other and may besup- In the case illustrated, supporting columns 15 project upwardlyfrom the top 14 to carry the unit 11 at a point spaced above the unit12. The columns 15 are preferably spaced tubular parts, or the like, andmay carry electrical wiring 16, etc., such as is required to operate theunit 11.

The unit 11 is a light generating and projecting unit and is carried andsupported at a point or position remote from the person operating themachine and projects light downwardly and onto the unit 12. As shown,the unit 11 involves, generally, a light source A, an image projectingmeans B including image directingmeans C, an air circulating means D,and an air filtering means E. The unit 11 includes a frame or housing.18 having top, bottom, and side walls 19, 20, and 21, respectively. Theends of the housing 18are closed by a forward end wall 22 and a rear endwall 23. As shown, the housing 18 may be of sheet metal constructionsuitably secured together by screws, rivets, or welding, ascircumstances require.

The light source may vary widely in form and is pref erably a meansinvolving an incandescent lamp 24 and may also involve a reflector 25and a condensing lens 26. The lens 26 may be an ordinary lenspreferablya piano-convex lens placed in front of the lamp 24 and with the flatside thereof facing the lamp and adapted to direct a beam of lighttoward the image handling means hereinafter described. The reflector 25'is preferably provided behind the lamp 24 and is an ordinary concavemirror for concentrating a beam of light in a forward direction throughthe lens In accordance with the invention, a beam of light is directedforwardly or downwardly on a substantially vertical axis 27 through awindow 28 in the bottom 20 of the housing 13. The window 2i? may be inthe form of a condensing lens adapted to work in conjunction with thelens 26, and. like the lens 26, may be an ordinary plane-convex lensmounted in the bottom 29 and with the flat side thereof substantiallyflush with the bottom. In the preferred form of the invention, the lightsource A is disposed on a horizontal axis 29in which case a mirror 36 isprovided to direct the light along the axis 27. The mirror 30 may beangularly mounted as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. As clearlyillustrated, the light source A involves a suitable bracket 31 providedto carry the lamp 24, reflector 25, lens 26, and the mirror 30 which arelocated at or near the rear end portion of the housing 13. It will beapparent how the lens 26 and lens shaped window 28 operate as a pair ofcondensing lenses even though they are separated by the mirror 30.

The image projecting means B is provided to receive an image and toproject it onto the screen Z and may be in the form of an ordinaryprojecting lens. As shown, the lens is a simple lens 32 preferablydisposed to receive a substantially vertical beam of light on a verticalaxis.

34, in which case the lens 32 is mounted or carried on a substantiallyvertical axis in the bottom wall 20 of the housing 18. The lens 32 issecured in a cylindrical barrel 35 which may be screw threaded into amounting 36 carried by the housing 18 so that the lens may be focused byrotation of the barrel as circumstances require.

The image directing means is provided to adjustably position the imageon the screen Z and involves an angularly positioned shiftable mirror 38that receives a beam of light on the axis 34 and reflects it laterallyand substantially horizontally onto the screen Z. The mirror 38 isshiftable and pivotally carried at one end by a horizontally disposedpivot pin 39 that extends transversely of the housing 18 and the otherend of the mirror 38 is shiftably carried by a movable support 40. Themovable support 40 may involve a rotatable screw 41 threadedly engagedin a nut 42 pivotally engaged with the mirror 38. The screw 41 isshouldered at 43 and a spring 44 yieldingly urges the nut to an upposition. It will be apparent that the mirror 38 is angularly shifted byrotation of the screw 41 which operates to elevate or lower the nut 42.

From Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be readily understood how theimage projecting means B and image directingmeans Chandle animagereceivedalongthe.

axis 34 so that the image is directed along a desired axis 45 and ontothe screen Z. The image directing means C is located at or near thefront end portion of the housing 18, and as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, the front wall 22 of the housing is provided with a, window 46of transparent material such as glass, or the like, for passing theprojected image.

The air circulating means D is provided to move air through the housing18 in order to cool the light source A, above described, and may be anysuitable air circulating means including, primarily, a blower or fan. Asshown, the means D is in the form of a blower 47 driven by a motor Mlocated either in the top 19 of and above downwardly to the baseportions of the elements of the.-

light source A. The means D includes means for exhausting air from thehousing 18 after it passes over the elements of the light source A, and,as shown, the air flows from the base portion of the elements of thelight.

source, upwardly and out of the housing 18 through an opening 48 in thetop 19. The blower 47 is a flat horizontally disposed mechanism thatcovers the opening 48 in the top and receives the air and delivers itlaterally to a deflector 49. The deflector 49 is provided to direct theair flow vertically as the heated air is exhausted from 1 the blower 47.

The air filtering means E is provided to clean the air as it is admittedto the housing 18 and before it is played' or directed onto the lightsource A by the circulating means D. As shown, one or more suitablescreens or filtering pads 50 may be provided to admit air to theinterior of the housing 18. I have shown a single filtering. pad 50,which may be of fibrous material loosely packedv and adapted toeliminate dust particles from the air as it passes into the housing 18and which is located at the forward end of the housing ahead of thebaflle 33 so that the air is drawn into the housing and onto theelements of the light source A. The pad 50 is shown carried by the top19.

The elements of the projecting apparatus thus far described are combinedin the light generating and projecting;

unit 11 to be fixedly located above the unit 12 and above the head ofthe person operating or handling the machine.

Access may be had to the interior of the housing 18 by hinging the top19 at one side or end and by fastening thev opposite side by means ofscrews or the like, as shown. Since the light is projected downwardlyfrom the unit 11 and since a person operating the machine also facesdownwardly toward the unit 12, there are rays of light that would blindor otherwise impair the vision of the persons.

operating the machine.

The unit 12 is an image handling and directing unit and is carried at apoint or position convenient to a person operating the machine so thatthe person can easily and quickly handle the image or jot down or recordinformation to be projected onto the screen Z. As shown,.

the unit 12 involves an image handling means F, a light condenser G, andan image directing means H. The unit 12 includes a base of housing 55having top, bottom, andf side walls 56, 57, and 58, respectively. Theends of the housing 55 are closed by a forward end wall 59 and a rearend wall 60. The housing 55 may be constructed of sheet metal or likematerial suitably secured together by screws, rivets, or welding, ascircumstances require.

The image handling means F is provided to receive abeam of light that isdirected downwardly along the axis 27 and is provided to support atransparent element 8* having suitable markings or adapted to retainsuitable.

markings so that when light is passed through the element S, an image iscast onto the screen Z by the light generating and projecting unit 11,above. described. The image handling means F involves a simpletransparent window 61 of glass, or the like, in the top 56 of thehousing 55, and the element S may be a thin transparent film ofcellulose, acetate, or the like, provided with guide lines 62 andadapted to receive and retain markings of a pencil 63 or like writingimplements.

In the preferred form of the invention, I have provided a lightcondenser G adapted to handle the image in the plane of the element S sothat the image is directed toward a focal point. As shown, the lightcondenser G is in the form of a piano-convex lens 64, the flat sidethereof acting as a support for the window 61. The lens 64 and window 61are carried in an opening 65 provided in the top 56 of the housing 55and are located at or near the rear end wall 6% of the housing.

The image directing means H is provided to receive the image from thelens 64 and direct it to the image projecting means above described. Asclearly shown in Figs. 2. and 3 of the drawings, the means H receiveslight from the condenser G on the axis 27 and delivers the lightupwardly and vertically along the axis 34. The beam of light handled bythe image directing means H is directed along the intermediate axes 66which may be substantially horizontally disposed by means of a pair ofspaced reflecting mirrors 67 and 68. The mirrors are preferably firstsurface reflectors in order to maintain a sharp image. One or moremirrors may be povided to direct the light along the axis 34 toward themeans B and in the case illustrated, the mirror 67 is a single angularlymounted mirror at or beneath the condenser G and image directing means Fto reflect the beam of light on the substantially horizontal axis 66.The mirror 68 is preferably a double mirror angularly mounted beneaththe image pro jecting means B to erect the image and reflect the beam oflight substantially vertically along the axis 34-. The single mirror 67is mounted at or near the rear wall 60 while the double mirror 68 ismounted at or near the forward wall 59 of the housing 55. The imagedirecting means H includes a window opening 70 in line with the axis 34and provided in the top 56 of the housing 55 to pass light from thehousing along the axis 34.

The double mirror 68 is composed of angularly related reversing mirrors6% and 68 in planes 90 to each other and pitched to receive light fromthe single mirror 67 and to project the light forwardly and verticallyalong the axis 34-. The action of the double mirror 68 is so that theimage is upright on the screen Z. It is to be understood that the mirrormay be a sin,,.e mirror in which case one of the other mirrors involvedmay be a double mirror or the like.

A suitable light directing lens 71 is shown intermediate the mirrors 67and 68 which lens may be provided to control or minimize the diameter ofthe beam of light along the axes 66 and 34 as circumstances require.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a uniqueoverhead projecting apparatus that is not only eflicient in operationbut which handles the projecting light so that the light does notinterfere with the vision of a person operating the machine. That is,the light projected from the light source A is directed downwardly andaway from the eyes of the person operating the machine to illuminate thetransparency or element S and so that an image is reflected to theoverhead image projecting means B to be cast upon the screen Z. With theconstruction that I have provided, little or no heat is felt on thehands of the person operating the machine as he manipulates the pencilor marking element since all of the heat is handled through the overheadunit 11 which characterizes the structure of the machine or apparatusthat I have provided.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited 61 or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported in spaced relationshipabove an image handling and directing unit, said light generating andprojecting unit including, a light source directing light downwardlyonto and through said image handling and directing unit, and an imageprojecting means supported in operative fixed position above the imagehandling unit and receiving the image from the image handling anddirecting unit, said image handling and directing unit including, animage handling means having a transparent window adapted to support theimage and receiving light from said light source, and an image directingmeans directing the image upwardly to said projecting means.

2. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,an upper light generating and projecting unit, a lower image handlingand directing unit, support means extending between and supporting theunits in vertical spaced relationship, said upper light generating andprojecting unit including, a light source, means directing the lightdownwardly on a substantially vertical axis onto and through said lowerimage handling and directing unit, and an image projecting meansreceiving the image from the lower image handling and directing unitsand projecting it horizontally onto a viewing screen, said lower imagehandiing and directing unit including, an image handling means having atransparent window adapted to support the image and receiving light fromsaid light source in the upper unit and on the vertical axis, and animage directing means directing the image forwardly and then upwardly ona substantially vertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axis andto said projecting means in the upper unit.

3. An image projecting apparatus of the character de scribed, including,an upper light generating and projecting unit supported above a lowerimage handling and directing unit, said upper light generating andprojecting unit including, a light source comprising a lamp, acondensing lens ahead of the lamp, and a reflector ahead of the lamp anddirecting light downwardly on a substantially vertical axis onto andthrough said lower image handling and directing unit, and an imageprojecting means receiving the image from the lower image handling anddirecting unit, said lower image handling and directing unit including,an image handling means having a transparent window adapted to supportthe image and receiving light from said light source and on the verticalaxis, and an image directing means directing the image upwardly on asubstantially vertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axis and tosaid projecting means.

4. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source directing light downwardly on a substantially verticalaxis onto and through said image handling and directing unit, and animage projecting means receiving the image from the image handling anddirecting unit and comprising an image projecting lens and a shiftablemirror for adjustably casting the image on a screen, said image handlingand directing unit including, an image handling means having atransparent window adapted to support the image and receiving light fromsaid light source and on the vertical axis, and an image directing meansdirecting the image upwardly on a substantially vertical axis spacedfrom the first mentioned axis and to said projecting means.

5. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source comprising a lamp, a condensing lens ahead of the lamp,and a reflector behind the lamp and directing light downwardly on asubstantially vertical axis onto and through said image handling anddirecting unit, and an image projecting means receiving the image fromthe image handling and directing unit and comprising an image projectinglens and a shiftable mirror for adjustably casting the image on ascreen, said image handling and directing unit including, an imagehandling means having a transparent window adapted to support the imageand receiving light from said light source and on the vertical axis, andan image directing means directing the image upwardly on a substantiallyvertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axis and to saidprojecting means.

6. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source on a substantially horizontal axis and comprising a lamp,a condensing lens ahead of the lamp, a reflector behind the lamp and anangularly related mirror directing light downwardly on a substantiallyvertical axis onto and through said image handling and directing unit,and an image projecting means receiving the image from the imagehandling and directing unit and comprising a vertically disposed imageprojecting lens and an angularly related shiftable mirror for adjustablycasting the image on a screen, said image handling and directing unitincluding, an image handling means having a transparent window adaptedto support the image and receiving light from said light source and onthe vertical axis, and an image directing means directing the imageupwardly on a substantially vertical axis spaced from the firstmentioned axis and to said projecting means.

7. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source directing light downwardly on a substantially verticalaxis onto and through said image handling and directing unit, and animage projecting means receiving the image from the image handling anddirecting unit said image handling and directing unit including, animage handling means having a transparent window adapted to supporttheimage and receiving light from said light source and on the verticalaxis, an image focusing lens at the window, and an image directing meansreceiving the image and directing the image upwardly on a substantiallyvertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axis and to saidprojecting means.

8. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source directing light downwardly on a substantially verticalaxis onto and through said image handling and directing unit, and animage projecting means receiving the image from the image handling anddirecting unit, said image handling and directing unit including, animage handling means having a transparent window adapted to support theimage and receiving light from said light source and on the verticalaxis, and an image directing means comprising an angularly mountedmirror directing the image upwardly on a substantially vertical axisspaced from the first 1 rentioned axis and to said projecting means.

9. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source directing light downwardly on a substantially verticalaxis onto and through said image handling and directingunit, and animage projecting means receiving the d imagefrom the image handling anddirecting unit said image handling and directing unit including, animage handling means having a transparent window adapted to support theimage and receiving light from said light source and' on the verticalaxis, and an image'directing means comprising an angularly mountedmirror receiving the image and directing it substantially horizontallyand toa second angularly mounted mirror that directs the image upwardlyon a substantially vertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axisand to said projecting means.

10. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit, said light generating andprojecting unit including, a light source directing light downwardly ona substantially vertical axis ontoand through said image handling anddiresting unit, and an image projecting means receiving the image fromthe image handling and directing unit said image handling and directingunit including, an image handling means having a transparent windowadapted to support the image and receiving light from said light sourceand on the vertical axis, an image focusing lens at the window, and animage directing means comprising an angularly mounted mirror receivingthe image from the lens and directing it substantially horizontally andto a second angularly mounted mirror that directs the image upwardly ona substantially vertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axis andto said projecting means.

11. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a light source comprising a lamp, a condensing lens ahead of the lamp,and a reflector behind the lamp and directing light downwardly on asubstantially vertical axis onto and through said image handling anddirecting unit, and an image projecting means receiving the image fromthe image handling and directing unit and comprising an imageprojectinglens and a shiftable mirror for adjustably casting the image on ascreen, said image handling and directing unit including, an imagehandling means having a transparent window adapted to support the imageand receiving light from said light source and on the vertical axis, animage focusing lens at the window, and an image directing meanscomprising an angularly mounted mirror receiving the image from the lensand directing it substantially horizontally and to a second angularlymounted mirror that directs the image upwardly on a substantiallyvertical axis spaced from the first mentioned axis and to saidprojecting means.

12. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,an upper light generating and projecting unit sup orted above a lowerimage handling and directing unit, said upper light generating andprojecting unit including, a housing supported in fixed positionabovethe image handling and directing unit, a light source in thehousing and directing light downwardly onto and through said imagehandling anddirecting unit, and an image projecting means in the housingand receiving the image from the image handling and directing unittherebetweenand projecting said image horizontally onto a screen, saidlower image handling and directing unit including, a housing, an imagehandling means in the housing and having transparent window adapted tosupport the image and receiving light from said light source, and animage directing means in the housing below the windew and directing theimage forwardly and then upwardly to said projecting means.

13. An image projecting apparatus of the character described, including,a light generating and projecting unit supported above an image handlingand directing unit, said light generating and projecting unit including,a housa la ght source in the housing and directing light downwardly ontoand through said image handling and directing unit, and an imageprojecting means in the housing and receiving the image from the imagehandling and directing unit, said image handling and directing unitincluding, a housing, an image handling means in the housing and havinga transparent window adapted to support the image and receiving lightfrom said light source, and an image directing means in the housing anddirecting the image upwardly to said projecting means, there being anair filtering means admitting air to the interior of the housing of thelight generating and pro- References Cited in the file of this patentjecting unit and an air circulating means adapted to move 10 2381260 theair over the elements in the housing.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Deming Mar. 13, 1917 Weigel Nov. 4, 1924 BernardJan. 26, 1932 Bancroft July 22, 1941 Bancroft Feb. 9, 1943 Coker et a1.Oct. 5, 1943 Coker Aug. 7, 1945

